Now We Know, We Need To Remove Nuclear (And “Clean Coal”) From Our Sustainable Future.

NASA's Earth Observatory

While the Japanese were in the mist of picking themselves up and dusting off from what is now classified as a 9.0 earthquake, they were slammed back down by a giant tsunami.

And bless their hearts, they can not even take a second to catch their breaths because four of their damaged nuclear reactors are exploding and catching fire. Officials have issued a health alert, radiation levels are spiking around at least one of the crippled reactors.

Authorities banned flights over the area, warned people as far as 18.6 miles (30 kilometers) away from the plant to stay inside (if there are ‘insides‘ to shelter in).

Most of the workers have been evacuated from the plant. And ‘most’ is the operative word because some workers remained behind engaged in a last-ditch effort using ocean water to cool the reactor cores. There is no doubt that they will be getting extremely high doses of radiation. Very possibly lethal doses and they know it. They are the very definition of the word heroes. For their people, they will most likely give the ultimate sacrifice – it is so very sad.

NOAA energy map

Japan is one of the most technologically advanced countries on Earth. In fact, when it comes to earthquake engineering and construction, the rest of the world looks upon this island nation as the experts and relies on them for knowledge and training in this field.

But no amount of preparedness can withstand a natural disaster that moves the island of Japan 8 feet (2.4 meters), shifted Eastern Japan towards North America by about 13 feet (3.96 meters), shifts the Earth’s axis around 6 1/2 inches (17 cm), and shortens the length of the day by about 1.8 microseconds.

So, Mother Nature has given us the answer on the nuclear power question. And the answer is nuclear power is NOT sustainable. Not for us at the day and age.  Tapping nuclear energy is too powerful and uncontrollable for us to manage. It is too dangerous. We must cross it off our green energy list. Just like ‘clean-coal’ is not clean, nuclear power is not safe.

NASA Image

If you are interested, there is a collection of overhead photos from Australian TV that shows startling contrast of before and after tsunami in Sendai area. Just hover the pics and sweep the mouse side to side to see the difference.

All in all how are the Japanese people handling these back to back terrible disasters? Well, there is no looting, the stores that could open did with marked down prices, vending machine owners opened their machines and gave away the drinks, and total strangers are sharing their food, water, and warm clothes and blankets with their neighbors.

And the rest of this world watches their grace under fire …

No Nuclear…. as the green future unfolds.

Planet Green is now in Greensburg filming 6 new episodes on how the town is
coming along in their effort to be the first green town in America.

They also went on the trip to China for the EcoPartnership with a town hit by the
earthquakes. There were 4 guys from Greensburg that went on that trip. The new mayor
(Bob Dixon) the City Administrator (Steve Hewitt) the Superintendent (Darin Headrick)
and the President of the Chamber (Steve Kirk).

Greensburg was one of seven governmental or business entities of this country signing
separate cooperative agreements with corresponding Chinese agencies as part of the
American-Sino affair. Greensburg’s agreement was a three-year cooperative partnership
with the Chinese city of Mianzhu, a part of Sichuan Province, where a devastating
earthquake last May 12 killed nearly 100,000 Chinese, including around 10,000 school (more…)

The Global Seed Vault, opened this year on the far-northern Norwegian island of Spitsbergen, is a backup for the backups. It’s badly needed as around half the seed banks in developing countries are at risk from natural disasters or general instability.

Superman had it right: if you want to keep something safe, build a mountain fortress above the Arctic Circle. That’s the thinking — more or less — behind the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. Almost every nation keeps collections of native seeds so local crops can be replanted in case of an agricultural disaster. The Global Seed Vault, opened this year on the far-northern Norwegian island of Spitsbergen, is a backup for the backups. It’s badly needed — as many as half the seed banks in developing (more…)

You’ve probably experienced the bouncing sensation when a car passes, as you
walk in a multistoried parking structure. Or the phenomenon of the floor
vibrating beneath your feet on the upper levels of a crowded mall during the
holidays. A mini earthquake from thousands of feet traversing the walkways.
Structures are designed to accommodate this motion, which structural engineers
call “dynamic load”. (more…)